Variable speed reducer



March 2S, 1939. .-1. NEEDHAM 2,152,207

VARIABLE 'SPEED REDUCER Filed April 16,. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR (0.55/2/7' Nain/MM March 28,1939.

l .1. NEEDHAM VRIABL SPEED REDUCER 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 INVENjroR dofsfP/f /Vffof/AM BY E' A'rToR Y Patented Mer. 2s, `193.9 y i 2,152,207

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE SPEED REDUCER Joseph Needham, Passaic, N. J'. Application April 16, 1936, Serial No. 74,730 s claims. (c1. 'x4-230.17)

This invention relates to devices or apparatus modified method of producing the variable drives for providing a variable speed drive between a of a pulley. t drive shaft and a shaft to be driven as well as a In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have indivariable speed reduction drive involving a plucated one method of producing a variable speed rality of substantially similar units arranged almultiple reduction drive, wherein a plurality of ternately on the drive and driven shafts; and substantially similar variable drive units are em-l the object of the invention is to provide a device ployed. In said figures, I0 represents an openor mechanism of the class described with means work frame in which is mounted a stationary for maintaining the drive belt employed in a shaft II and a movable shaft I2, that is to say,

fixed or relatively fixed center line of travel to the shaft I2 is movable toward and from the 10 eliminate wear upon the side friction surfaces of shaft II in the frame. The movement is conbelts of this type as usually employed in other trolled by a feed screw I3 operated through a devices of this kind; a further object being to hand wheel I4 to move an end plate I5 or side provide a variable speed drive pulley of the class strips I6 longitudinally 0f the Side rails |00 0f described employing independent side plates or the frame I0. The Strips i6 are Coupled with the 15 disks, each of which is tensionally controlled to shaft or include bearing POI'uOnS la in Which the maintain a fixed belt center line centrally beshaft I2 is mounted. l tween opposed surfaces of said disks; a further Rotatably mounted upon the shafts II and I2 object being to provide a pulley of the class deiS a plurality 0f Substantially Similar Variable scribed having interengaging or intermeshing speed drive units I'I, Ila, IIb, and I'Ic. At I8 is 20 elements on opposed surfaces thereof to facilia take-off unit having two V-grOOVeS I9 and 20 tate the arrangement of the disks'in a compact As all of the units I'I-IIc are of the same con- `relationship with respect to each other to reduce struction, the brief deSeriDtiOn 0f One Will apply the Width of the complete pulley formed thereby; 110 all, and a unit "C iS ShOWn ill Section in Figa still further object being to provide in conjunc- 1, and on an enlarged scale in Fig. 3 of the draw- 25 tion witha variable drive puney of the class deines. Each unit consists of a xed pulley 2l hevscribed, a xed or non-variable pulley ,to form ing a iiXed V-Sllaped glOOVe in the circumference thereof a variable unit, a, number. of which units thereof to adapt the same for use with the con-v may be employed in forming a reduction drive; Ventional V-shaped belt. At 22, I have shown the and with these and other objects in view, the inbelt which extends from the pulley on a drive 30 vention consists in a device or mechanism of the mOiOl 0l' POWel Shaft i0 the Pulley 2| 0f the unit class described, which is simple in construction, |7- -The Pulley 2i iS Secured t0 a Sleeve 23 r0- eicient in use, and which is constructed as hereilailably muullted 0 11 its SuIJllOl'iiiDg Shafi- Keyed inafter described and claimed. to this sleeve is a variable speed drive pulley 24 The invention is fully disclosed in the follow. consisting of independent disks 25 and 26. 35 ing specification, of which the accompanying The inner adjacent surfaces 25a, 26a of these drawings form a part, in which the separate parts disks are beveled t0 form friction drive Surfacea of my improvement are designated by suitable These surfaces are cut out they extend to the reference characters in each of the views, and hub portions of the disks to form interlocking or in which intermeshing webs ortrlbsdfbi'and 2912195 40 1 i 1 indicated in Fig. 2 of he awmgs. e pli?1 dive i311? 313C?? ggl View of a' mum extend through openings 2I formed in the disk 26 so as to provide a compact intermeshing of FFIE' 2 1s a' p'rtialdsecllon on the une 2 2 of the disks which make up the variable drive pulley g'- on 'an-en arge sc e.' 24. A spring 28 extends between the recessed 45 Fig. 3 S an enlarged SeCtIOnal View 0f a Of hub portion of the pulley I and the 25, and

the construction shown in Fig. 1.

another spring 29 extends between the hub por- Fig- 4 is a' plan and Sectmal View 0f a modified tion of the disk ze and e toner an secured te the form of drive unit which I may employ. sleeve 2.3

ng. 5 iS a SeCtinal View of anothelform of this construction the disks and are 50]v unit. capable of movement toward and from eachother Fig. 6 iS a diagrammatle Plan aud Seei'liOual in the variable speed drives of the respective view of a. single variable speed drive which I may units or the pulleys 24 thereof without changing employ; and, the center of the drive belt employed, which belt Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view ill trating a operates in one of the fixed pulleys 2| of an op? 55 W fev-vs... Y

posed unit. In other words, the belt 22a extends from the pulley 24 of the unit |1 to the pulley 2| of the unit |1a and the belt 22h extends from the pulley 24 of the unit |1a to the pulley 2| of the unit I1b. A belt 22e extends from the pulley 24 of the unit |11) to the pulley 2| of the unit |1c. Another belt 22d extends from the pulley 24 of the unit |1c to the V-groove I9 of the pulley I8, and a belt 22e extends from the groove 20 of the pulley I8 to a pulley on a shaft to be driven, which is not shown, the latter being lreferred to as the output. All of the belts 2222e are provided with beveled side surfaces 3| which are adapted to engage the beveled surfaces 25a, 26a of the variable pulleys 24, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, as well as to seat snugly in the fixed grooves of the pulleys 2|.

Each unit operates independently upon the shafts and I2, and in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the belts are operating in the variable pulleys 24 with their separate disks 25 and 26 arranged in close proximity to each other. However, by moving the shaft I2 to the left by means of the screw I3, the belts may be moved into position to reduce the acting diameter of the respective variable drive pulleys 24 in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to successively vary the speed of drive of one unit to another to provide a wide range in the ratio of drive depending entirely upon the number of units employed. As the diameters of the pulleys 24 arranged on the shaft I2 are reduced, in like manner, the diameters of the pulleys 24 on theishaft are reduced. In other words, by changing the relative centers of the shafts and I2 one with respect to the other through the adjustment screw I3, the speed of drive may be increased or decreased and successively varied throughout the respective unitsto any desired ratio, which may be governed by the number of units employed in any particular installation.

In the variable speed and ratio drive of the complete mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the centers of drive of the belts 22a, 22D, 22c and 22d remain unchanged. In other words, the pulleys 2| are retained against longitudinal movement on the respective shafts ll and I2, whereas the separate disks 25 and 26 of the pulleys 24 in each unit move toward and from the center of travel fixed by said belts. This construction eliminates excessive wear upon the beveled friction drive surfaces 3l of the belt which would otherwise be experienced when the center of travel of the belt is varied. By reason of the construction of the pulleys 24 disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a relatively compact unit is provided,'and this would also be true of the structure shown in Fig. 5, whereas with the structure shown in Fig. 4, a slightly greater space will be occupied with the same number of units employed. However, by constructing all of the respective units of the same form and construction, the cost of installing a complete series of units is materially reduced. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in some cases, a unit similar to they unit I8 will be employed.

The structure disclosed in Fig. 5 of the drawings differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive by employing a series of coil springs and by modifying the structure of the pulley 24. In this figure, I have shown at 3| a pulley equivalent to the pulley 2| which is welded or otherwise secured to a long sleeve 32 arranged upon a shaft 33 which may constitute either of the shafts 75 I2. At 34, I have shown a variable drive pulley -beveled friction drive surfaces 56 and 51 which is substituted for the pulley 24, and this pulley consists of two substantially similar disks 35 and 36 which are keyed to and movable longitudinally of the sleeve 32. The disks have hub portions 35a, 36a which join annular peripheral rings 35h, 36h in radial ribs 35c, 36e, said ribs interlocking or intermeshing to form the variable and beveled inner friction surfaces 31 and 38. The disks 35 and 36 are shown fully extended in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and brought together in dotted lines, which illustrates the two extremes of the drive of the belt 39 in connection with the pulley 34. The belt 39 is also of the V-type, or in other words, similar to the belts 22-22e shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A cornpanion belt 39a of the unit shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings operates in the groove 3|a in the pulley 3|.

The hook portions 35a, 36a are provided with projecting lugs 40, 4| at circumferentially spaced intervals and coupled with these lugs are coil springs 42 which pass through recessed or apertured portions of the disks 35, 36. These springs serve to support the disks in tensional engagement with the belt. 39 in the variable drives of the pulley 34 and to accomplish this result without changing the center of travel of said belt 39 as with the construction shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In Fig. 4 of the drawin s, I have shown another modication which adapts the units for use in connection with wide and fact, with belts of various kinds and classes, including what are known as long type belts or built-up belts. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown at 43, 43a wide flat' belts having beveled side edges 44, 44a adapted to operate upon the beveled surfaces of the pulleys 45, 46 employed.

The pulley is of the fixed or non-variable type, or in other words, is similar to the pulleys 2| and 3l, and this pulley is welded or otherwise secured to a sleeve 41 rotatably mounted on a shaft 48 which may constitute either of the shafts Il, 2. The pulley 45 has an enlarged hub portion 49 which is recessed as indicated at 50 to form a seat for a coil spring 5|. Another coll spring 52 seats upon a grooved collar 53 secured to the sleevev41. The variable drive pulley 46 is composed of separate disks 54, 55 which have which are arranged opposite to each other as clearly indicated, and these disks are keyed to and movable longitudinally of the sleeve 41. Theysprings 5| and 52 operate upon the separate disks to -maintain the same in frictional engagement with the belt 43a in the several positions of said disks, while maintaining the longitudinal center of drive of the belt 43a always in the same position.

Instead of adjusting one of the shafts by means of the screw I3 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to provide the variable speed drive, the same result can be accomplished by maintaining shafts Lia, |2a in fixed relationship with respect to each other, and arranging a lever 58 on a shaft 59 intermedlate the shafts Ila, I2, and providingthe ends of the lever 58 with pulleys 60 around which the belts 6| which may be equivalent to the belts 22-22e, 39, 39a, 43, 43a are adapted to pass. By swinging the lever 58 on the shaft 59, the belts 6| may be moved to provide the variable speed drive of the respective units. This result can be accomplished by providing a separate lever for each of the belts employed, it being understood that all levers will be opera ed in unison, or two or three of such levers mat1 be employed, and the flat type belts, or in l belt vconstantly in a variable pulley defining the structure,

'Ia variable speed reduction drive unit such as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings as well as in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the width or thicknesses of the belts employed may be successively varied through a complete drive system to compensate for added torque in a drive of this type, or that is to say, in certain installations of drives of this type. In this connection, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to the use of belts of any particular kind or cross sectional form, and still further, the characteristics of the frictional surfaces of the pulleys may be varied or modified to suit the different types and kinds of belts employed.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, I have shown at 63 a single variable drive pulley which may be equivalent to any of the pulleys 24, 34 and 46, the pulley 63 shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, being of a structure similar to the pulley 24, in other words, consists of disks 64 and 65 similar to the disks 25 and 26, both disks being keyed to and movable longitudinally of a sleeve 66 arranged upon a. shaft 61. Springs 68 and 69 sionally support the disks in engagement with a V-shaped'drive belt 'l0 while maintaining said single line of travel, which line is represented vby the dotted line 'Il shown in said figure, in order to at all times maintain the belt in position to properly engage a non- 13 arranged upon a shaft 'I4 as partially represented in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The springs 68 and 69 seat at their outer ends upon collars 15 and 16 secured to the sleeve 66.

For the sake of clarity and simplification in it may be said that each unit comprises a pulley having a fixed diameter and a cone of variable diameter drives; and in the transmission as disclosed in Fig.1, the belts extend from the pulley of one unit to the variable cone of an opposed unit. It will thus be understood that when the term "pulley is used, reference Y:is being made to thexed diameter pulley; and when the term cone" is used, reference is beirg made to the variable diameter cone of the uni Having fully described my invention, what I clainiis as new and desire to secureby Letters Paten 1. A variable speed belt drive unit of the character described, said adapted for free rotary movement on a supporting shaft, a pulley secured to one end of said sleeve, a cone comprising relatively movable discs portion of said sleeve,

slidably mounted on and keyed to .the other `end means at said last named end of the sleeve for retaining the cone discs against displacement from said sleeve, and tensional means for independentlyA moving each of said discs to maintain the same in tensional engagement with the belt arranged therebetween.

2. A variable speed belt drive unit of thecharacter described, said unit comprising a sleve adapted for free rotary movement on a supporting shaft, a pulley secured to one endv of said sleeve, a cone comprising relatively movable discs slidably mounted on and keyed to the other end portion of said sleeve, means at said last named are employed to tenunit comprising a sleeve cent surfaces of the discs of said cone being beveled and provided with circumferentially spaced ribs, and the ribs of one disc intermeshing with the ribs of the opposed disc for keying said discs together.

3. A variable speed belt drive unit of the character described, said unit comprising a sleeve adapted for free rotary movement on a supporting shaft, a pulley secured to one end of said sleeve, a cone comprising relatively movable discs slidably mounted on and keyed to the other end portion of said sleeve, means at said last named end of the sleeve for retaining the cone discs against vdisplacement from said sleeve, tensional means for independently moving each of said discs to maintain the same in tensional engagementwith the belt arranged therebetween, adjacent surfaces of the discs of said cone being beveled and provided with circumferentially spaced ribs, the ribs of one disc intermeshing with the ribs of the opposed disc for keying said discs together, and one of said discs being cut out to receive the ribs of theop'posedldisc to provide a compact arrangement of said discs one upon the other.

4. A multiple variable speed drive mechanism of the class described comprising a frame, two shafts arranged in parallel and spaced relation in said frame, a plurality of independently rotatable units arranged on one of said shafts, another unit arranged upon the other of said shafts, each of said units comprising a sleeve freely rotatable on its supporting shaft, a pulley fixed to said sleeve and a cone keyed to Vsaid sleeve, the units being arranged on said shafts in such manner that the cone of one of the rst named units is in alinement with the pulley of the4 last mentioned unit, and the cone of the last mentioned unit is in alinement with the pulley of the other of said nrst mentioned units, belts engaging opposed pulleys and cones, each cone comprising relatively movable discs with tensional means for supporting the discs in position to maintain coml' mon alinement of the cone with the pulleyof an opposed unit, and means for varying the speed of drive of each member between the-pulleys en- -gaged thereby and for varying the ratio drive 'from one unit to the successive units throughout a complete drive mechanism.

5. A multiple variable speed drive mechanism .freely rotatable on its supporting shaft, a pulley fixed' to said sleeve and acone keyed to said sleeve, the units being arranged on said shafts in such manner that the pulley of the units on one shaft is in alinement with the cones of the units of the opposed shaft whereby belts engaging the pulley and cones of units'on op- 4posed shafts will be in common alinement, the

cones of each of said units comprising relatively movable discs with tensional means operating upon said discs so as to maintain alinement of said belts in the variable speed drive of the mechanism, one of said shafts being xed in the frame, means for moving the other of said shafts toward and from the fixed shaft in varying the ratio of drive from one unit to the successive units throughout a complete drive mechanism,

and means engaging the pulley c! one of the units on the stationary shaft for operating said mechanism.

6. A multiple variable speed drive mechanism of the class described comprising a frame, two shafts arranged in parallel and spaced relation in said frame, a plurality of independently rotatable units arranged on one of said shafts, other l units arranged upon the other of said shafts, each of said units comprising a sleeve freely rotatable on its supporting shaft, a pulley fixed to said sleeve and a cone keyed to said sleeve, the units being arranged on said shafts in such manner that the pulley of the units on one shaft is in alinement with the cones of the units of the opposed shaft whereby belts engaging the pulley and cones of units on opposed shafts will .so as to maintain alinement be in common alinement, the cones of each of said units comprising relatively movable discs with tensional means operating upon said discs of said belts in the variable speed drive of the mechanism, one of said shafts being xed in the frame, means 'for moving the other of said shafts toward and from the xed shaft in varying the. retin of drive from one unit to the successive units throughout a complete drive mechanism,l means engaging the pulley of one of the units on the stationary shaft for operating said mechanism, and means for transmitting the power o tput of saidv mechanism to an apparatus to be driven.

JOSEPH NEEDHAM. 

